Ahli set for tough Asian volleyball challenge

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club will be taking on Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi from Indonesia in their opening game of the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship, which is set to be hosted by the Kingdom from Sunday next week.

The tournament schedule was released yesterday by the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) following the approval of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC).

The competition is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority (GSA) president and Bahrain Olympic Committee chief His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. It is being organised by the BVA in cooperation with the AVC.

Eight matches will be held per day between two arenas at Isa Sports City in Riffa.

A total of 16 teams from across the continent are taking part in the event, which continues until May 21.

Following their opening fixture on day one, Ahli next take on Korean Air Jumbos Pro-Volleyball Club from South Korea in their second assignment the following evening, before completing their Pool A preliminary round campaign Tuesday against Canberra Heat from Australia.

All three of the hosts’ matches are scheduled to begin no earlier than 7pm.

Pool B in the tournament features Shahdab Yazd from Iran, South Gas Sports Club from Iraq, Taichung Bank from Chinese-Taipei and Kam Air from Afghanistan.

Pool C comprises Suntory Sunbirds from Japan, Diamond Food Fine Chef-Air Force from Thailand, Bayankhongor Crownd Geo VC from Mongolia and Khaypil Sports Club from Yemen.

Pool D features Atyrau VC from Kazakhstan, Police Sports Team from Qatar, Aspiring Volleyball Team from Hong Kong and Kuwait Sporting Club from Kuwait.

Following the group stage, the top two teams from each pool move on to the round of eight, where they will again be divided into two pools to determine the semi-finalists.

The bottom two teams from each preliminary round pool will move on to the consolation bracket for the tournament’s final classification.

Meanwhile, the BVA announced yesterday that for the first time in any volleyball competition ever held in Bahrain, challenge technology will be implemented during the tournament.

Head coaches will be able to dispute referee decisions, with footage from high-tech cameras to be used in the review.

Each team will be allowed up to two challenges in a match. The inclusion of such a system is one of the requirements of hosting an AVC event at the senior men’s level.

A series of workshops are being held for local referees to train them in using the challenge technology, with the help of referees from the AVC.

The BVA is planning to implement such technology in local competitions starting the 2023/2024 season, with the support of the General Sports Authority.